An illustrative example composite leaf spring includes first and second bushing tubes near longitudinal ends. A ribbon of base material is wrapped at least partially around the first and second bushing tubes. The base material has a width that defines a width of the leaf spring. First portions of the base material are near the longitudinal ends and a second portion is between the first portions. The second portion is thicker than the first portions. A plurality of layers of a ribbon of tension material are wrapped around the base material. The tension material defines an outermost layer of the leaf spring. The tension material has warp strands in a longitudinal direction between the first and second longitudinal ends of the leaf spring and weft strands transverse to the warp strands. The warp strands establish a majority of a composition of the tension material.

A component part for a motor vehicle having a hollow profile portion of a fiber-reinforced plastic and a load introduction element of a metal material. The hollow profile portion and the load introduction element are connected in a common connection portion via a nondetachable, glued plug-in connection in which an end portion of the load introduction element and an end portion of the hollow profile portion engage in one another by positive engagement. The end portion of the load introduction element has a spline with teeth extending in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion so that the stiffness of the end portion of the load introduction element reduced in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion.

A fiber reinforced plastic compression-tension component for connecting two mechanical parts is provided. The component has a curved connection member connecting two coupling units. A portion of the curved connection member has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry. The U-shaped cross-sectional geometry may comprise upright portions with winglets extending outward. The geometry of the compression-tension component allows it to replace a heavier compression-tension component made of metal and having a different geometry.

A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device provides a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The damping element including at least one deflecting flange for reducing any ingress of water and other pollutants between the upper and lower annular bearing members. The damping element is provided with an annular groove open axially towards the suspension spring, the annular groove radially defining a spring support surface on an inner side, and the deflecting flange on an outer side. The deflecting flange has a frustoconical shape directed axially towards the suspension spring.

An independent wheel suspension for a two-track vehicle has a wheel carrier, a vibration damper designed and arranged in the manner of a damper strut, and a leaf spring element, which has, in particular, a fiber composite material or is made from a fiber composite material. The leaf spring element is oriented at least approximately in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is designed to provide a suspension function and, together with the vibration damper, to guide a vehicle wheel fastened to the wheel carrier when the independent wheel suspension is installed in a vehicle for functional usage. The leaf spring element is connected, on the wheel carrier end, to the wheel carrier via two rubber bearings, each having a bearing axis and a central bearing point, so as to be rotatable about the respective bearing axis of each rubber bearing and is designed to be connected, on the vehicle body end, to an axle support in a torsion-resistant manner and/or directly to a vehicle body.

An assembly for a wheel of a robotic vehicle and a method for overcoming an obstacle for said robotic vehicle. The assembly comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion, the first arm portion being attachable to a chassis of the robotic vehicle at an attachment point and extending forwardly and downwardly relative to the attachment point in a direction of a movement of the robotic vehicle. The second arm portion is pivotably connected with the first arm portion at an arm pivot point and extends forwardly relative to the arm pivot point in the direction of the movement. The wheel is rotatably mounted on one end of the second arm portion opposed to the arm pivot point. A wheel rotation axis being positioned at least as high as the arm pivot point relative to a surface on which the robotic vehicle is positioned.

A control arm including a frame, a mounting structure on the frame, and a ball-and-socket joint on the frame. The ball-and-socket joint includes an insert formed of a resilient plastic material bonded in a complementary receptacle or socket of the frame. A ball portion of a ball-and-socket joint pin is rotatably arranged in the insert. A plastic material coating is provided on the ball portion and a metal coating is provided on the plastic material coating. When placed in the insert the metal coating of the ball portion contacts an inner surface of the insert.

Gas spring end members include an end member wall with a longitudinal axis. The end member wall includes an end wall portion and an outer wall portion. The outer wall portion extends peripherally about an axis and is dimensioned to receivingly engage a flexible spring member. Rib wall portions are spaced around the axis with each of the rib wall portions projecting axially from the end wall portion toward a rib end surface portion. The rib wall portions also include a rib edge surface portion spaced inward from an inner side surface portion of the outer peripheral wall portion such that a gap is formed therebetween. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members, and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.

A leaf spring device for a suspension system for a vehicle a including a leaf spring unit, an impact absorbing unit connected to the leaf spring unit and configured to absorb an impact generated by a motion of the leaf spring unit, and a lower arm support unit configured to accommodate the impact absorbing unit, the lower arm support unit being mounted on a lower arm.

The suspension device according to the present invention is provided with a leaf spring extending in a belt shape, a first arm, a second arm, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling the first arm and the second arm, wherein: a first holding part for holding one end of the leaf spring and a second holding part for holding the other end of the leaf spring are provided; and the first and second arms each support the leaf spring by at least one portion that is different from the one end or the other end of the leaf spring.